McDonald’s Rewards 2026: Points, Tiers, Deals & Expiration

Earn Points Correctly, Redeem the Best Reward and Avoid Losing Your Balance

McDonald’s Rewards 2026 members earn 100 points for every eligible U.S. dollar spent. Redemption begins at 1,500 points and the current menu contains six levels extending to 7,000 points.

This guide shows exactly what each tier includes, which charges do not earn points, how expiration is calculated, how to add receipt points and what happens after a cancelled or failed order.

Verified July 19, 2026 United States program Six current levels Official terms reviewed Participation varies

Complete answer

MyMcDonald’s Rewards rules at a glance

Earning rate 100 points per eligible $1

Only qualifying dollars actually paid earn points.

First reward Starts at 1,500 points

Normally equal to $15 in qualifying spending without bonuses.

Current options Six reward levels

1,500, 2,000, 3,500, 4,000, 5,000 and 7,000 points.

Expiration Each point batch expires separately

New purchases do not extend older points.

Reward limit One reward per order

Additional eligible paid food can still earn points.

Deal limit One Deal per person, per visit

Individual offer terms can be more restrictive.

Forgot the code Submit a physical receipt within 7 days

Only one receipt can currently be entered every 30 days.

What to do now Compare the unlocked reward’s local price

Redeem the item you would otherwise pay the most for.

MyMcDonald’s Rewards 2026 tiers from 1,500 to 7,000 points with qualifying spend and reward choices — Current U.S. MyMcDonald’s Rewards levels, normal qualifying-spend equivalents and example reward choices. Products, dayparts and participation can vary by restaurant.

Which McDonald’s Reward Should You Choose?

Points expiring soon

Use 1,500 points

Choose this level when waiting for a larger balance could cause the oldest points to expire.

Examples: Hash Browns, Apple Pie, small coffee or Vanilla Cone.

Quick sandwich

Use 2,000 points

Useful when you already planned to buy a McChicken, Cheeseburger or breakfast Sausage Biscuit.

Flexible order

Consider 4,000 points

The `$3 off $3+` option can be more useful when none of the fixed food rewards matches your order.

Larger favorite

Save for 7,000 points

Includes options such as Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Happy Meal, McFlurry and 10-Piece McNuggets.

Best-value rule: divide the product’s local cash price by the points required, then multiply by 1,000. Compare products from the same restaurant and redeem only for something you would otherwise purchase.

McDonald’s Rewards Tiers and Free Items

The “normal qualifying spend” figures below are calculated using the standard earning rate. Bonus-point offers can unlock a tier with less paid spending.

Reward level	Normal qualifying spend	Current reward choices	Best for	Check before redeeming
1,500 points	$15	Hash Browns, Apple Pie, small Premium Roast Coffee or Vanilla Cone	Fast redemption, side, drink or dessert	Hash Browns require breakfast availability
2,000 points	$20	McChicken, Cheeseburger or Sausage Biscuit	Low-cost sandwich or breakfast item	Sausage Biscuit is breakfast dependent
3,500 points	$35	Medium Fries, Sausage Burrito, 6-Piece McNuggets, large Iced Coffee or Sausage McGriddles	Side, snack, coffee or breakfast	Stock and machine availability can vary
4,000 points	$40	$3 off an eligible order of $3 or more	A flexible mixed order	Participating restaurant and app restrictions apply
5,000 points	$50	Large Fries, Sausage McMuffin with Egg, Filet-O-Fish, large Frappé or Hotcakes	Larger side, breakfast, fish or specialty drink	Daypart and machine availability matter
7,000 points	$70	Big Mac, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Happy Meal, Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit, McFlurry, 10-Piece McNuggets or Sausage Egg & Cheese McGriddles	Main item, kids meal, breakfast or dessert	Not every restaurant stocks every choice

Reward products and required levels can change. A product displayed nationally is not guaranteed to remain available or be stocked at every participating restaurant.

How to Find the Best McDonald’s Points Value

Use one restaurant’s prices

Do not compare a Big Mac price from one location with a Filet-O-Fish price from another.

Compare value per 1,000 points

This makes all six reward levels directly comparable.

Check daypart and stock

A mathematically strong breakfast reward has no value after breakfast ends.

Your situation	Recommended action	Reason
Points expire this month	Redeem the lowest useful unlocked level	Expired points produce no value
You normally buy a Big Mac	Compare its local price with the 7,000-point requirement	Local menu price determines actual value
You are buying several small items	Check the 4,000-point $3 discount	It is not restricted to one fixed product
You want breakfast	Redeem before local breakfast service ends	Breakfast rewards may disappear after changeover
You want home delivery	Order McDelivery inside the McDonald’s app	Direct third-party orders do not support McDonald’s Rewards

How to Earn MyMcDonald’s Rewards Points

Earn automatically with Mobile Order & Pay

Sign in and join Rewards

Open the McDonald’s app and confirm that you have opted into MyMcDonald’s Rewards.

Select the correct restaurant

Its menu, prices, participation and available rewards control the order.

Add eligible products

Points are earned only on qualifying dollars actually paid.

Complete payment in the app

The signed-in order should automatically connect to the Rewards account.

Earn at the Drive Thru

Open Earn Points

Display the current four-digit Drive Thru code.

Give the code before ordering

Provide it at the speaker before the crew finishes entering the order.

Keep the receipt

Retain the physical receipt until the correct points appear.

Earn at the counter or kiosk

✓ Front counter Show the QR code or four-digit account code before paying.

✓ Self-service kiosk Scan the Rewards QR code when the kiosk requests loyalty identification.

✓ Linked payment card A linked card can identify the account and process payment together.

✓ One code is enough A Reward or Deal code can also identify the account for paid-item earning.

How to link a payment card

Open Earn Points

Select the Earn Points tab in the McDonald’s app.

Select Pay with Linked Card

Choose the linked-card option displayed near the top.

Enter and save the card

To replace it later, open More, Profile and Payment Methods.

Which Purchases Earn McDonald’s Points?

Transaction component	Earns points?	How it is treated
Eligible menu products	Yes	100 points for each eligible dollar actually paid
Paid food in an order containing a Reward	Yes	Earn on qualifying products that remain payable
Paid food after an app Deal	Yes	Earn only on the qualifying amount paid after discount
Eligible food paid with an Arch Card	Yes	The qualifying food purchase can earn points
Loading money onto an Arch Card	No	Adding gift-card value is not a qualifying food purchase
Sales tax	No	Tax is excluded from point earning
Bag, bottle and other surcharges	No	Fees and surcharges are excluded
Delivery, service or small-order fees	No	Only eligible product spending can qualify
Delivery tip	No	A tip is not an eligible McDonald’s product purchase

Example: your eligible food subtotal is $12.00 and tax plus fees add $2.25. Normal earning is based on the $12.00 qualifying subtotal, not the $14.25 checkout total.

McDonald’s Deals vs Rewards

Rule	App Deal	Points Reward
How it is obtained	Appears as an account promotion	Unlocked by accumulating points
General use limit	One Deal per person, per restaurant visit	One Reward per order
Expiration	Uses the date and terms shown on that offer	Points follow the program’s batch-expiration rule
Serving-time restrictions	Can apply	Can apply to breakfast and unavailable products
Transferable	No	No
Cash alternative	No	No
Points on additional paid food	Yes	Yes

Three Deal-code rules users often miss

QR code: 15 minutes

After choosing Scan at Restaurant, use the QR code during its active window.

Other offers: locked for 60 minutes

After selecting Use Deal, other Deals can become unavailable for the next hour.

Code will not scan

Give the displayed four-character code to the front-counter or Drive Thru crew member.

Do not assume every Deal can be combined with a Reward. The general one-Deal and one-Reward limits still apply, and an individual offer may prohibit combining them.

Current 2026 Rewards and App Offers

Checked July 19, 2026: offers below are dynamic account promotions, not permanent tier benefits. Confirm that an offer appears in your own app before buying around it.

How to Redeem McDonald’s Rewards Points

Redeem through Mobile Order & Pay

Open Rewards & Deals

Select the correct restaurant

The chosen restaurant must carry and currently serve the reward product.

Choose one Reward

The U.S. program currently allows one Reward per order.

Select Add to Mobile Order

The selected product should appear as the Reward inside your bag.

Add other paid products

Those eligible products can still earn normal points.

Verify the bag before payment

Confirm the restaurant, free item, paid items and pickup or delivery method.

Redeem at the Drive Thru

1 Select Use at Restaurant Choose the unlocked Reward before starting the order.

2 Reveal the four-digit code Keep the app connected through Wi-Fi or mobile data.

3 Give the code first Provide it at the speaker before the order is completed.

4 Check the receipt Confirm the Reward and any paid-item earning were applied.

Redeem at a counter or kiosk

Select the Reward, choose the in-restaurant option and scan or provide the displayed code before payment. One Reward code is enough to redeem the product and identify the account for eligible paid-item earning.

What if you select a Reward but never use it?

Selecting a Reward temporarily deducts its points and places the Reward in the account. Official terms state that an unredeemed selected Reward will be converted back to points, but no single return-time promise is published for every situation.

When Do McDonald’s Rewards Points Expire?

Points expire on the first day of the month after the sixth month from the date they were earned. Each earning transaction creates a separately dated batch.

Points earned	Six-month point	Expiration date	What to do
January 5, 2026	July 5, 2026	August 1, 2026	Redeem during July
March 31, 2026	September 30, 2026	October 1, 2026	Do not wait until late October
July 19, 2026	January 19, 2027	February 1, 2027	Use the batch during January
November 30, 2026	May 30, 2027	June 1, 2027	Redeem before June begins

Making a new purchase does not refresh old points. New and old batches can have different expiration dates.

Other ways access to points can end

Opting out

Existing points, Rewards, Deals and exclusive benefits become unavailable.

Closing the account

Accumulated points expire immediately when the account is terminated.

Program misuse

Improperly obtained points or program abuse can result in forfeiture or suspension.

How to Add Missing McDonald’s Points From a Receipt

First identify which problem happened

Problem	Correct route	Deadline	Evidence
You forgot to scan or give the code	Add Missing Points from Receipt	Within 7 days	Physical restaurant receipt
You identified the account, but points were calculated incorrectly	Contact McDonald’s Customer Care	Within 6 months	Receipt and transaction details
The purchase was made less than 24 hours ago	Wait before opening a support request	Wait approximately 24 hours	Keep the receipt

Where to find the required receipt information

Restaurant number Look for “McDonald’s Restaurant #XXXX” above the address. It is not the order number.

Visit date Find the transaction date printed with the visit details.

Visit time The time normally appears near the date on the receipt.

Order number Use the order number shown below the date and time, not the restaurant number.

Order total Use the printed Take-Out Total or equivalent final transaction total.

Submit a forgotten-code receipt

Keep the physical receipt

The current official FAQ says only information from a physical receipt is accepted.

Open More

Use the bottom navigation inside the McDonald’s app.

Select Add Missing Points from Receipt

Then choose Enter Receipt Details.

Enter all five fields

Restaurant number, date, time, order number and order total are required.

Submit within seven days

Do not wait until the end of the month.

Allow one to six days

Processing time depends on whether the submitted information is accurate.

Current receipt-entry limit: one physical receipt can be submitted for points every 30 days. Use your Rewards code before payment whenever possible.

Points still missing after you used the code

Wait approximately 24 hours

Some correctly identified purchases do not post immediately.

Recalculate qualifying spending

Remove tax, fees, delivery charges, tips and other excluded amounts.

Open Contact Us

Select More, Careers, Contact & Legal, and then Contact Us.

Provide complete evidence

Include the account email, order number, subtotal, restaurant and receipt.

Can You Earn and Redeem Rewards on McDelivery?

Order method	Earn points?	Redeem a Reward?	Important limitation
McDelivery inside the McDonald’s app	Yes	Yes	Tax, delivery fees, service fees and tips do not earn points
Delivery through the McDonald’s website	No app points	Not through Rewards	Use the app when Rewards matter
Direct DoorDash order	No	No	DoorDash promotions and support are separate
Direct Uber Eats order	No	No	Uber Eats promotions and support are separate
Direct Grubhub order	No	No	Contact Grubhub for a platform-order issue

McDelivery food prices may be higher than pickup prices, and delivery or other fees may apply. Those extra fees do not increase the Rewards balance.

Cancelled Orders, Wrong Restaurants and Refunds

What happens to an applied Deal or Reward?

Applied Deal

Returns within about 15 minutes

After an eligible cancellation, the Deal should become available again within approximately 15 minutes.

Applied Reward

Returns for immediate redemption

The selected item should return to the Ready to redeem section of the Rewards Dashboard.

Points balance

The Reward returns—not visible points

McDonald’s says the redeemed points are not credited back as points after cancellation.

Can an order be changed after payment?

Situation	What happens	What to do now
You want to edit the order	Submitted orders cannot currently be changed	Cancel before preparation and place a new order
The Cancel Order button is available	Preparation has not prevented cancellation yet	Cancel from the order details
The Cancel Order button is gone	The restaurant may have started preparation	Contact the selected restaurant
You selected the wrong restaurant	The order cannot be transferred	Cancel and reorder, or collect from the originally selected restaurant
Payment processed but you cannot collect	A restaurant-level refund review is required	Contact the restaurant that received the order

Point Sharing, Lost Phones and Account Rules

Question	Current rule	Practical action
Can points be transferred?	No	Redeem through the account that earned them
Can two balances be combined?	No	Use one primary account consistently
Can points be exchanged for cash?	No	Use points only for authorized Rewards
What happens after losing a phone?	Points remain linked to the account	Secure the device and sign in on the replacement phone
What happens after opting out?	Points, Rewards and Deals become unavailable	Redeem important points before opting out
What happens after account closure?	Accumulated points expire immediately	Redeem before requesting closure

McDonald’s Rewards Troubleshooting

Points are missing The purchase was recent.

Check first Wait 24 hours and exclude tax, fees and tip.

Do now Contact support through the app with the order number and subtotal.

You forgot the code You still have a physical receipt.

Check first The purchase is no more than seven days old.

Do now Use Add Missing Points from Receipt.

Receipt submission fails The app rejects the entry.

Check first Every field, seven-day deadline and 30-day receipt limit.

Do now Keep the receipt and contact support through the app.

QR code will not scan The screen or restaurant scanner failed.

Check first Internet connection and screen brightness.

Do now Give the displayed four-character code to the crew.

Other Deals disappeared You recently selected Use Deal.

Likely reason The app can lock other offers for 60 minutes.

Do now Wait and check whether the original Deal was used or expired.

Reward item unavailable The product is not stocked or currently served.

Check first Restaurant, serving time and current availability.

Do now Select another Reward before submitting the order.

Wrong restaurant selected The order was sent to another kitchen.

Check first Whether Cancel Order remains available.

Do now Cancel and reorder or collect from the original restaurant.

Reward missing after cancellation The dashboard has not refreshed.

Check first Open Ready to redeem and reload the app.

Do now Contact support if the selected Reward does not return.

Delivery problem A third party handled the order.

Check first The provider named in the order or receipt.

Do now Contact that delivery provider through the order screen.

McValue and Dollar Menu guide Compare current Under-$3 products, Meal Deals and app-value options. McDonald’s menu calories Check nutrition before choosing a free food Reward. McChicken price guide Compare the local cash price with the 2,000-point redemption. Big Mac price guide Compare the local cash price with the 7,000-point redemption. Cheeseburger price guide Check whether the 2,000-point Cheeseburger provides better local value.

Official McDonald’s Rewards Actions

The rules and troubleshooting steps are already explained above. Use these official pages only for a live account action, current Reward inventory or final program terms.

View current Reward tiers Confirm live point levels, products and account offers. Download the McDonald’s app Join Rewards, order food and access account Deals. Open official Rewards FAQs Review receipt, earning, redemption and account guidance. Open official Deals help Check Deal limits, QR timing and missing-offer troubleshooting. Read official program terms Check qualifying spending, expiration and account conditions. Mobile-order help Review cancellation, wrong-restaurant and refund routes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many McDonald’s Rewards points do I earn per dollar?

You earn 100 points for every eligible U.S. dollar actually spent after opting into Rewards and correctly identifying your account.

What are the McDonald’s Rewards tiers in 2026?

The current levels are 1,500, 2,000, 3,500, 4,000, 5,000 and 7,000 points.

When do McDonald’s Rewards points expire?

Points expire on the first day of the month after the sixth month from the date they were earned.

Does earning new points extend older points?

No. Each batch keeps its own earning date and expiration calculation.

Can I redeem more than one Reward per order?

No. The current U.S. program limits members to one points Reward per order.

Can I use a Deal and a Reward in the same order?

Do not assume they can always be combined. General limits and the specific terms attached to each offer apply.

Can I earn points while redeeming a Reward?

Yes. Additional eligible products you pay for can still earn 100 points per qualifying dollar.

Which purchases do not earn points?

Tax, bag or bottle fees, other surcharges, money loaded onto an Arch Card, delivery fees, service fees, small-order fees and tips do not earn points.

How do I add missing McDonald’s points from a receipt?

Open More, select Add Missing Points from Receipt and enter the restaurant number, visit date, visit time, order number and order total from a physical receipt.

How long do I have to submit a forgotten-code receipt?

The manual receipt request must be submitted within seven days of the transaction.

How many receipts can I submit for points?

The current official FAQ allows one physical receipt submission for points every 30 days.

How long do receipt points take to appear?

After accurate receipt details are submitted, the adjustment can take approximately one to six days.

How long do I have to report incorrectly calculated points?

The official terms provide up to six months to report incorrectly calculated qualifying points with a receipt.

Why have my points not appeared?

Wait approximately 24 hours, exclude tax and fees from the expected amount, and then contact support through the app with the order details.

Can I use Rewards on McDelivery?

Yes, for eligible delivery orders placed inside the McDonald’s app. Direct third-party delivery orders do not qualify.

What happens to my Reward after cancellation?

The selected Reward should return immediately to Ready to redeem. The previously exchanged points do not return as a visible point balance.

What happens to my Deal after cancellation?

An applied Deal should become available again within approximately 15 minutes.

Can McDonald’s points be transferred or shared?

No. Points have no cash value and cannot be transferred or combined across accounts.

Do I lose my points if I lose my phone?

No. Points are linked to the account. Secure the lost device and sign into the same account on a replacement phone.

Which McDonald’s Reward has the best value?

It depends on local menu prices. Compare each item’s local cash price per 1,000 required points using the calculator below.

Rewards Calculators and Verification Method

These tools run only inside the browser. They do not connect to a McDonald’s account, store payment information or send entered values to MacMenus.

MacMenus Rewards Lab

Calculate earned points, reward value, the next unlocked level, expiration and the physical-receipt deadline.

Free browser tools

Points earned calculator

Enter eligible product spending before tax and excluded fees.

Eligible spending

Bonus points

Reward value calculator

Use the cash price at the restaurant where you plan to order.

Local cash price

Points required

Next Reward level finder

Enter the current balance shown in the app.

Current points

Points expiration calculator

Calculates the first day of the month after the sixth month.

Date points were earned

Receipt deadline calculator

Use this only when the Rewards code was not provided before payment.

Purchase date

How MacMenus compares Reward value

Select one participating restaurant.
Record the current cash price of an unlocked Reward item.
Divide that price by the required points.
Multiply by 1,000 to create a comparable score.
Repeat for other products at the same restaurant.
Redeem only for an item you would otherwise purchase.

Source and update method

The current official U.S. Rewards page was checked for all six levels and current offers.
The official Rewards FAQ was checked for receipt rules and exact app steps.
The official terms were checked for qualifying spending, point expiration and account termination.
The official Deals help page was checked for 15-minute and 60-minute timing rules.
The June 24, 2026 cancellation FAQ was checked for returned Deals and Rewards.
No stale PDF, fake review, national participation percentage or invented point value was used.

MacMenus.us is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or operated by McDonald’s Corporation. MyMcDonald’s Rewards products, point requirements, earning rules, expiration, promotions, participation and app features can change. Points have no cash value. Confirm the current Rewards & Deals screen and official program terms before redeeming or allowing points to expire. McDonald’s and related product names are trademarks of their respective owners.